Actor Steps Forward to Donate Before 'I Seungman Memorial Hall' Fundraising Account Even Opens

Lee Young-ae, Steadily Donates to Neighbors in Need
Museum Construction to Be Funded 70% by Public Donations

Actress Lee Young-ae (52) is reported to have been the first to express her intention to support the national fundraising campaign for the construction of a memorial hall dedicated to South Korea's first president, former President Syngman Rhee.

On the 11th, the committee announced that the fundraising campaign had begun through the '(Foundation) Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Foundation.' Approximately 30 million won was raised from about 2,052 donors on the first day alone, and the foundation stated that Lee Young-ae also expressed her willingness to participate.

In particular, it is said that Lee Young-ae expressed her intention to donate even before the donation account was opened, immediately after the news of the launch of the promotion committee was announced.

According to a foundation official, Lee Young-ae conveyed her donation intention through an acquaintance, saying she "shares the purpose of building the memorial hall."

Last month, Lee Young-ae donated 50 million won along with a letter of consolation to support the victims of the wildfires in Hawaii, USA. She has been actively donating to neighbors in need, including those affected by the Guryong Village fire, floods in the Chungcheong region, COVID-19, and refugees from the Ukraine conflict.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Lee Young-ae is a representative 'donation angel' in the entertainment industry. She has shown special interest not only in domestic but also overseas marginalized neighbors and disaster situations, and, true to her military family background, has been actively involved in donations related to veterans.

Last month, she donated 50 million won to help victims of the wildfires in Hawaii, USA, along with a letter of consolation. Over time, she has carried out donation activities for neighbors in need, including the fire in Guryong Village, flood damage in the Chungcheong region, COVID-19 relief, and aid for refugees from the Ukraine conflict.

In January 2021, she visited the grave of Jeong-in, who passed away after only 16 months due to abuse by adoptive parents, and quietly donated 100 million won, asking that it be used for other children suffering like Jeong-in.

On June 14th, at the Army Hotel (ROKAUS) in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, attendees including Army Chief of Staff Park Jeong-hwan and actress Lee Young-ae (fourth from the left in the back row) are taking a commemorative photo at the "Army Non-Commissioned Officer Large Family Invitation Event."
[Photo by Army]

Earlier, in 2014, she paid 100 million won in hospital bills on behalf of a Taiwanese pregnant woman who had a premature birth, and in 2015, she fully sponsored 400 million won for the expenses of the 'Republic of Korea Non-Commissioned Officers Love Concert - The Heroes.'

In August of the same year, she also delivered consolation money to Sergeant Kim Jung-won and Sergeant Ha Jae-heon, who were injured by North Korea's DMZ landmine provocation, and donated 50 million won to be used for performances for non-commissioned officers working hard at the front lines.

Meanwhile, the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall project can be fully funded by the government budget under the Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Independence Patriots, but to promote it with public participation, 70% of the funding will be covered by public fundraising.

The construction promotion committee is chaired by former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, with 23 members participating as construction promotion committee members, including Lee Young-il, advisor of the Korea History and Future Foundation, Joo Dae-hwan, vice chairman of the Jo Bong-am Memorial Association, and Han Hwa-gap, president of the Korean Peninsula Peace Foundation.